General Information

Name: John Peter Altgeld

Illinois Connection

Altgeld was governor of Illinois from 1893-1897.

Biographical and Professional Information

John Peter Altgeld moved to Chicago where he founded a prosperous law firm that employed such rising stars as Clarence Darrow.He became the 20th Governor of the state of Illinois from 1893 until 1897. He was a leading figure of the Progressive movement, Altgeld improved workplace safety and child labor laws, and rejected calls in 1894 to break up the Pullman strike with force.